Chalk-sharpener.



J. z. POLLAR D & G11. LEDERER. CHALK SHARPENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1914.

1 86,830. I Patented J une 13, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PMNDORAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN Z. POLL-AR-D AND GEORGE J. LEDERFR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHALK -SHARPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11-11613, 1916.

Application filed January 19, 1914. Serial No. 813,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN Z. POLLARD and GEORGE J. Lnnnnnn, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Chicago, county of Coolnrand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chalk Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic means for sharpening tailors chalk and the like. Heretofore it has been customary in the tailoring art to sharpen the chalk by hand requiring some degree of skill and judgment and usually entailing loss of the shavings.

The main objects of this invention are to provide improved means for sharpening chalk; and to provide an apparatus of this character which shall comprise a chalk holder and a cutter relatively movable past each other; which shall produce a sharp uniform edge without breaking the corners at the ends of the chalk; which shall be auto matic in its handling of the chalk; power driven with respect to the cutter; readily op-' eratable by any person without regard to skill, strength or experience; inexpensive to manufacture and operate; accurate, durable and efiicient in use, and saving of chalk material.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device as a whole, with the top cover plate removed and with part of the motor and the opposite side of the casing broken away. Fig. 2 is horizontal section on the line AA of Fig. 3 showing an underneath view of the runway and carriage. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper part of the device on the line B B of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the cover plate. tion of the device on the line CC of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section through the upper part of the device on the line DD of Fig.1. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through the central upper part of the device on the line E'-E of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a. perspective view of the guide cleaner. Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the clamp jaws. Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofa piece of chalk sharpened on'two opposite edges. Fig. ,11 is a plan view'of the jaw actuating control guides.

In the construction shown in the r w- Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sec-' ings the device as a whole comprises mainly an upright boxlike'casing 1 having a support frame 2 partially covering the top and adapted to support the working mechanism, plate-like cover 8 of peculiar construction fitting upon said frame and closing said device, a runway 4 carried by the frame 2, a carriage 5 arranged for reciprocation on sa1d runway, operating means 6 for controlling said carriage subject to the will of the operator, clamping means on said carriage for holding thechalk during the sharpening process, a tool 7 carried by said frame arranged and adapted to sharpen the chalk when the device is operated, and motive means 8 carried by the said frame for operating said tool. The casing 1 is of light, hollow construction and preferably contains a drawer 9 adapted to receive the shavings from the cutter, and which may be used also as a storage receptacle for chalk. A space 10 is provlded between the drawer and the back of the casing for the lower endof the handle 6. A transversely and downwardly inin the bottom of the drawer. A suitable re-v ceptacle 17 is secured to the front of the drawer beneath said slot to receive the chalk as it is discharged from the chute.

The frame 2 may be of any suitable form adapted for mounting the apparatus, but preferably comprises a horizontal plate portion rl8 attachable to the top of the casing as by screws 19, said plate being open atits middle portion-and provided with an upstanding inner peripheral flange 20. A

bracket 21 adapted to support the motor 8 is also formed integral with the rear edge of said frame. 3

The cover 3 is flat in general shape and is formed to fit closely upon the frame flange 20 where it is removably secured as at 22 by suitable means such as screws or the like.

This cover is provided with a central longitudinal depression 23 extending throughout the greater part of its length, said depression being longitudinally slotted as at 2A at the middle of the plate and toward one end to receive and provide a passage way for chalk as it travels past the cutter. The edges of the slot 24 help to steady and guide the chalk. The said cover 3 is provided with a shield 26 substantially integral therewith and disposed in'an arched position toward and over theend of said slotted depression which overlies the cutter. This shield serves tostop flying chalk-chipsand shavings and prevents dropping chalk or other objects into the slot over the cutter.

The runway 4 is disposed longitudinally of the open part of. the frame 2 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars 30 removably secured at their ends to the vertical endflangesrof said frame. This runway is substantially apart of the frame 2.

Thecarriage 5 comprises a rigid body member 33 of substantially flat oblong shape formed adjacent to its side edges with parallel slideways 34 to receive the runway bars 30 for support thereon, and is preferably made as a casting suitably formed and adapted to receive and support certain members -carried thereby. A longitudinal slot is provided in the front end of the carrlage in registry with the cover slot 24 to receive theflat strips or sections of chalk 13 to be sharpened. A clamp is provided adjacent tothis slot for rigidly securing the chalk inplace. This clamp is preferably disposed onthe under side of the carriage, and comprisesa pair of fiat rectangular aw plates 39 disposed slde by side in the same plane and hav ng opposing edges 40 of saw tooth shape adapted to interfit when brought together. These jaws 39 are disposed in transverse grooves 42 in the under side of the carriage body 33 and adjacentito the front end, -and are arranged to reciprocate,

transversely of thecarriage. Two operating levers43, arranged as a coacting pair, support said jaws. Said levers are disposed in substantially parallel relation on opposite sides: of the, carriage-beneath the jaws, and'are pivoted directlyt-o the rear portion of the carriage, preferably at points adjacent to their inner edges, as at 45. The forward arms 46 of said levers are normally urged together by yieldable "means as a spring 48 preferably comprising a U-shaped rod disposed'on the under side of said levers with its ends pivotallyfconnected as at 49 tothe'forward ends thereof. The rearward arms 50 project back of the carriage. The closure of said jaws is limited by stops 51 fixed onthe under side ofthe carriage body adapted to engage the forward arms'of said levers, and limit the inward movement thereof. Each of the jaws is secured to its support arm 46 by means of a pivot 52 passing through the middle portion of the jaw, adapted to permit such oscillation of the jaw as is provided for by the groove 42' in which the jaw is seated. Jaw closing control guides are provided on the frame 2 at the rear end and comprise preferably a pair of forwardly projecting lugs or studs 53 on the inner side of the rear frame flange. hen the carriage is withdrawn to its normal inoperative position at the rear end of the runway the rearward arms 50 engage the inner or opposing faces 54 of said studs.

These studs toward their forward endsare divergent so that when the carriage advances the coacting arms are permitted to move apart according to the inclination of said opposing faces 54, thus providing for gradual closure of thejaws on the forward arms. The extreme rear portions of these faces are parallel as at 55 and, are spaced only enough to receive the lever arms 50. Vertically pivoted bearing rollers 57 are carried by the arms 50 to avoid friction with said faces.

The cutter 7 comprises a rotatable hub 60 and a plurality of blades 61 formed and arranged in any suitable manner thereon to give the desired form to the chalk. It is preferably formed with an annular series of pairs of radial blades with cutting edges 7 on adjacent opposing sides, said cutting edges being convergent toward theaxis of the cutter, as shown at 62 on Fig. 5, these blades being adapted to produce a double 'beveled and more or less sharp edge to the chalk depending upon adjustment of certain parts, as it passes through the cutter between said blades; The cutter is secured by a nut 63 to the inner end of a shaft 64 journaled in the frame 2 and connected directly to the motor 8. As the carriage 5 is moved forward it passes over the revolving cutter and carries the chalk in proper operative relation thereto for sharpening.

The cutter is arranged for the motion of the blades to be codirectional with the chalk *when cutting but at far greater speed. The

cutting stroke is thus upward and forward. By this means the cutting force always acts toward the body of the chalk and there is no tendency to break away the corners of the chalk. i

Clamp releasing meansiare provided consisting of a pair of toggle members or links 65 connecting the forward ends of the lever arms 46. Said toggle links are pivoted together' at their adjacent ends and incline I when set bear against the forwardly projecting stop shoulders 67 on the carriage.

When the jaws are thus opened the chalk escapes and passes down the chute into the receptacle. The carriage is then withdrawn to its normal position ready to receive another piece of chalk.

Clamp closing means comprisea dog 69 on the inner side of one ofthe side flanges of the frame for releasing the toggle, in combination with said guide studs 53 on the rear frame flange which retard the closure. Said dog is so disposed as to permit the carriage to move backwardly without affecting the toggle, but will engage an outwardly projecting arm 70 of one of the toggle links and release the toggle as soon as the carriage has begun to move forward, this permitting the spring 48 to set the clamp upon the chalk as soon as the rear ends of the clamp levers advance past and from the control guides 53.

Gage means are provided for adjusting the degree'of sharpnessto be given to the edge of the chalk. This gage comprises a vertically movable member 7 3 having a longitudinal guide groove 74 therein arranged in alinement with the cutter 7 and is adapted to receive the lower edge of the chalk. Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering said member 73, but vertical guide 76 on the frame and coacting means 77 on the gage member together with an adjusting screw 78 arranged for moving the member 7 3 up and down, are found to be well adapted for the purpose. The screw 78 passes freely down through a rigid lug 79 on the frame flange 20 and engages a threaded perforation in the member 7 3. A spring is provided to urge the guide member downwardly against the action of the adjusting screw and is preferably disposed in helical form about the said screw.

A gage groove cleaner is provided on the rear end of the carrlage and comprises a bracket like integral member having a perforated shank 81 adapted tofit against the under side of the carriage and a downwardly projecting finger 82 formed to pass readily through the guide groove in the gage member 73 and to remove all chalk, shavings or other material therefrom in so doing. Said shank is secured to the carriage by means of a screw 83 or the like adapted when loose to permit lateral adjustment of the cleaner for centering the finger with the guide groove 74, and when set tohold the cleaner rigidly in place on the carriage.

Driving means for the cutter may comprise any suitable motor or driving force, but an electric motor 8 is preferred, said motor being mounted on the frame bracket 21 in alinement with and suitably connected to the cutter shaft.

111 rder to fac litate oiling the apparatus The operation of this improved chalk sharpener is as follows: The motor is start ed in the ordinary manner, Assuming that the carriage is at the rear end of the runway and that the jaws are open, a piece of chalk is dropped edgewiseinto the coverslot. The carriage is then moved forward by means of the handle thereby causing the jaws to close upon the chalk by gradual movement of the lever arms as they are released by the inclined guide shoulders on the rear of the frame. Simultaneously with the beginning of movement of the carriage forward, the toggle joint is released by means of engagement of one of the toggle arms with the dog, thus leaving the closure of the jaws under control of the spring and operating lever. As soon as the jaws are set upon the chalk the front end of the carriage arrives at the cutter, whereupon the sharpening process 1 begins and continues until the chalk is moved entirely past the cutter. Shortly after the carriage passes the cutter, the forward ends of the toggle links contact with the rigid frame and the toggle links are forced laterally into alinement, thus releasing the jaws and permitting the chalk to drop onto the chute from whence it is delivered by gravity to the receptacle at the front of the casing. The shavings also drop upon the chute, but pass through-the grating and are collected in the bottom of the drawer. When the toggle opens as above stated, the pivoted ends are Although but one specific embodiment V of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim i 1. In a chalk sharpener, the combination of a base, a clamp mounted for relative movement thereon, clamp closingmeans conprising a pair of parallellevers having relatively stationary fulcrum means, yielding meansconnected for urging the forward arms of said levers together, toggle means connecting said forward arms for holding the same apart, a dog on'said base for releasing said toggle means, and a pair of ends of said -arms,said toggle means being I set by contact with said frame when the carriage is moved to its extreme forward limit to hold said arms apart, and a dog carried by said frame for releasing said toggle as soon as the carriage begins its forward movement.

8. In a chalk sharpenerof the character described, a reciprocatory carriage for the chalk to be sharpened in combination with copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the .commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C. l

a cutter disposed beneath the forward part ofthe path of said carriage, and a gage member disposed beneath the rear portion of the path of said carriage, said gage being vertically adjustable and adapted to determine the vertical position of the chalk in the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A chalk sharpening machine compris- 4o ing a frame, a carriage mounted to reciprocate'on said frame, a pair of clamp bars arranged side by side and having two adjacent ends pivoted to said carriage, co-

acting jaws borne by the opposite ends of said bars respectively to grip the chalk, a pair of bars arranged for toggle action pivoted together at adjacent ends and at their opposite ends pivoted to the jaw bearingends of said clamp bars, and means on said frame to set the toggle when the carriage is moved to one position and to release the toggle when the carriage is moved to another position respectively.

Signed at Chicago this'27th day ofAugust 1918.

JOHN Z. POLLARD. GEORGE J. LEDERER.

W'itnesses:

FRED M. DAVIS, JENNIE BURT. 

